Honoring Louise Hay

Louise Hay passed away on August 30, 2017 of natural causes at age 90. Reid Tracy, the president of Hay House, shared, “Louise was an incredible visionary and advocate. Everyone who had the privilege to meet her, either in person or through her words, felt her passion for serving others.”

Louise Hay’s life spoke of selfless dedication to others. I’ll always remember the kindness in her eyes when we met at the I Can Do It conference in September 2015. It was a nurturing moment that was timeless and uplifting. When we turn to her writings, quotes, and affirmations, we can remember that she walked her talk. And we can, too. Here are some of S&H’s favorite teachings from her:

“When I talk about doing affirmations, I mean consciously choosing words that will either help eliminate something from your life or help create something new in your life.”

“Every thought you think and every word you speak is an affirmation.”

“For me, peace of mind and loving myself is the most important state I can experience.”

“In the midst of chaos, I can be tranquil. Tranquility is inner peace.”

“Let’s begin right now in this moment to choose love. It’s the most powerful healing force there is.”

“Gratitude thinking brings abundance.”

“I choose to see clearly with eyes of love. I love what I see.”

“You are a unique beautiful soul.”

“There is no wrong way or right way to build self-esteem. Your inner child or inner compass is there to guide you. Trust it. Love yourself and always be true to the best version of yourself.”

“I have made negative choices in the past, but this does not mean that I am a bad person, nor am I stuck with these negative choices.”

“I release old judgments and love myself unconditionally.”

“I am not a healer. I do not heal anyone. I think of myself as a stepping-stone on a pathway of self-discovery. I create a space where people can learn how incredibly wonderful they are by teaching them to love themselves. After years of individual counseling with clients and conducting hundreds of workshops and intensive training programs across the country and around the world, I found that there is only one thing that heals every problem, and that is: to know how to love yourself.”

As Deputy COO of Spirituality & Health Media, Meggen Watt Petersen contributes her expertise across the board, including to the editorial team. She has written on matters of interfaith or international relations throughout her career.